Ja, vi elsker dette landet

The Norwegian national anthem is called Ja, vi elsker dette landet. The melody was written by Rikard Nordraak in 1864, and the lyrics were written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson in 1870. Usually only the first and the last two verses are sung.

Table of contents

1 Lyrics
2 Metrical version
3 External link

Lyrics

(for additional partial translations, at least in German and Esperanto, see those Wikipedias)

1. Ja, vi elsker dette landet, Yes, we love this country som det stiger frem, Which looms up, furet, værbitt over vannet, Rocky and weathered, above the sea, med de tusen hjem. With its thousand homes. Elsker, elsker det og tenker Love it, love it and think På vår far og mor About our mothers and fathers Og den saganatt som senker And the sagas that send Drømme på vår jord. Dreams to our earth. Og den saganatt som senker, And the sagas that send, Senker drømme på vår jord. Send dreams to our earth.

2. Dette landet Harald berget This country was saved by Harald med sin kjemperad, with his great effort, dette landet Håkon verget this country was protected by Håkon medens Øyvind kvad; whilst Øyvind sung; Olav på det landet malte Olav painted the country korset med sitt blod, with a cross of his blood, fra dets høye Sverre talte from its hig Sverre spoke Roma midt imot. against Rome.

3. Bøndene sine økser brynte Farmers their axes sharpened hvor en hær dro frem, as the army came Tordenskiold langs kysten lynte, Tordenskiold around the coastline thundered så det lystes hjem. so that we could see it back home Kvinner selv stod opp og strede Even women fought som de vare menn; like if they were men andre kunne bare grede, Others could only cry men det kok igjen! but that soon would end

4. Visstnok var vi ikke mange, Sure, we were not many men vi strakk dog til, but we were enough da vi prøvdes noen gange, When they challenged us og det stod på spill; and it was at stake ti vi heller landet brente we rather let our country burn enn det kom til fall; than be defeated husker bare hva som hendte Just remember what happened ned på Fredrikshald! at Fredrikshald!

5. Hårde tider har vi døyet, We have coped with hard times, ble til sist forstøtt; were at last disowned; men i verste nød blåøyet but in the worst suffer, blue-eyed frihet ble oss født. freedom was to us born. Det gav faderkraft å bære It gave (us) father's strength to carry hungersnød og krig, famine and war, det gav døden selv sin ære - it gave death itself its honour - og det gav forlik. and it gave compromise.

6. Fienden sitt våpen kastet, The enemy threw away his weapon, opp visiret for, up the visor went, vi med undren mot ham hastet, we, in wonder, to him hasted, ti han var vår bror. because he was our brother. Drevne frem på stand av skammen Driven onto stand by the shame gikk vi søderpå; we went to the south; nu vi står tre brødre sammen, now we three brothes stand united, og skal sådan stå! and shall stand like that!

7. Norske mann i hus og hytte, Norwegian man in house and cottage, takk din store Gud! thank your great God! Landet ville han beskytte, He would protect the country, skjønt det mørkt så ut. even as it looked dark. Alt hva fedrene har kjempet, Every struggle the fathers have made, mødrene har grett, mothers have wept, har den Herre stille lempet the Lord has quietly moved (things) så vi vant vår rett. so we have won our rights.

8. Ja, vi elsker dette landet, Yes, we love this country som det stiger frem, Which looms up, furet, værbitt over vannet, Rocky and weathered, above the sea, med de tusen hjem. With its thousand homes. Og som fedres kamp har hevet And as the fathers struggle has raised det av nød og seir, it had to be a victory, også vi, når det blir krevet, even we, when it is necessary, for dets fred slår leir. for it's peace to stay